Faithful Followers

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Ok, so since so many people caught my little reference to The Pirate Movie (a thoroughly silly, yet fun movie very loosely based on The Pirates of Penzance), I had to put this video here. I've had this song in my head all day. Well, not all day actually. I had this song running through my brain until my daughter started this song....

I know a song that gets on everybody's nerveseverybody's nerveseverybody's nervesI know a song that gets on everybody's nervesand this is how it goesbum, bum, bumI know a song that gets on everybody's nerveseverybody's nerveseverybody's nervesI know a song that gets on everybody's nervesand this is how it goesbum, bum, bumI know a song that gets on everybody's nerveseverybody's nerveseverybody's nervesI know a song that gets on everybody's nervesand this is how it goesbum, bum, bum

(repeat until your parents totally lose it)

Of course she started singing this in the car. In rush hour traffic. Just me and all six kids in the car in rush hour traffic with her singing this song. Then my son joined in. Then another son joined in the chorus followed by another daughter. Four of them singing in our closed up car in rush hour traffic. Then my little boy started singing his own version of the song which consisted mostly of his phrase-of-the-week, "Monkey poop". Not to be left out, the baby joined in the cacophony with her rendition of the song which went mostly like Ba Ba La La Da Ba Ba! At this point, I willingly retreated to my happy place. Serenity now! Serenity now! Serenity now!

Ahhh, I remember the days when I had only one little baby. His cries would break my heart because I couldn't do anything to comfort him while I was driving. His cries would just magnify in my ears mile after mile. I never would've guessed that one day I'd be tuning out six of them just as easily and naturally as breathing.

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Hallelujah the compressor broke on my fridge! It's under warranty! Until tomorrow anyway. Yay! The repair tech. tried to collect a service fee from me even though the warranty clearly states that all labor and material to replace the compressor is covered. I told him he'd have to collect from Whirlpool. Of course, this is not a part they keep in stock so I won't be able to get it fixed until next week, but it's covered so I can wait. It barely hit 50 degrees here today so I can throw all the food out into my backyard in the meantime. ;) You know what they say about the weather in Chicago - if you don't like it, wait a minute. It'll change.

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Because so many of you commented....back by popular demand - the picture of my baby smothered in chocolate.

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I have to give a little shout out to my friend Mimi in Texas! Mimi has a son, well actually she has four sons, but one of those boys, Julian, has Medulloblastoma (aggressive cancerous brain tumor). The tumor, the size of a golf ball was totally resected on March 9th 2007. This little four year old boy has (as has the whole family) been through a lot in his few years. You can read more about Julian on his care pages. The name of his page is JuliansWorld.

I know I talk a lot about different charities, but I'd be a schmuck if I didn't use my sudden popularity to help out others. I don't mind being known as a dork, but I don't want to be known for being a selfish schmuck. So, you can skim past this part if you wish, but I have to mention it anyway. My friend Mimi is selling those rubbery wristbands that are popular with kids to help offset some of their overwhelming medical bills. They say "Julian's World" on one side and "Trust God to Beat Cancer" on the other. She sells them for $5 which includes regular USPS mail. Additional ones are only $2.50. They come in your choice of yellow (Julian's favorite color because "it's like sunshine"), silver (for brain cancer), red white and blue, glow in the dark, and camouflage. They come in three sizes - large ,medium and kids (like under 8).

If you'd like to order a bracelet, you can email Mimi at mimiavery74@msn.com and give her the following information... how many wristbands, size L,M,K(for kids), color, Y(ellow) RWB(red white blue) S(silver) GID( glow in the dark) andC(amouflage), your shipping address and chosen method of payment, check or money order, or Paypal.

I want you to know that my little 15 month old boy can't take his eyes off your little chocolate covered girl. I don't know if he think she looks good in brown or if he's wishing I gave him that chance, but every day when I read your blog, he's in my lap, demanding I not scroll past her! :)

Yep, 5 kids here and the songs that drive me crazy are the ones that drive my older kids crazy so that they gripe at the younger kids who then sing louder to drown out the older kids trying to get them to stop..... ah, the joys of riding in a car. Sweet, sweet joy.

I have to ask because apparently I'm very culturally illiterate but ummmm what was the video of (very fancy, btw!)?

Also, I hope you will let me use your sudden fame for selfish purposes... My son turns 4 tomorrow (and SO proud of it). Last February, we went to Morke's, which is a chocolate shop where you make all sorts of treats. He decided then and there that he wanted a chocolate birthday party and has yet to waver. Stubborn little guy. With a lot of friends. Who wouldn't fit into Morke's, nor do I want to pay that much per kid. Smart, creative mom that I am, I decided that I could do a chocolate party at home. Melt some chocolate in my crockpots and electric fondue pot (truly superior to the traditional sterno ones), use a ladle to make the base for the pizzas, get some stuff to decorate the pizzas and dip into the chocolate, I had some molds I could use to make fun shapes and I'm set....

Except for one small detail.

I need the chocolate pieces. When going to the local store, I can pay $4/pound for the chocolate melty things (which added up way too fast) or find another source in the next day or so where I can order online. My google skills failed me, and I couldn't figure out what the melty chocolate thigns are called and ended up either with recipes to melt chocolate (seriously, a recipe?) or gourmet chocolates and sorry but I'm not giving 3 and 4 year olds gourmet chocolates -- their moms maybe, but not them. Does ANYone know of a good source for melting chocolate (a lot of it... like 30 pounds)?

Thanks, Trish -- you're a peach!

I love the new design btw. I go on vacation for a little bit and look what happens! Oh yeah, and you added nearly 200K more visitors. Whoo!

Yea about compressor. Man you got lucky you better be saying your thank you to the guy upstairs!!!! You lucked out girlfriend.

My daughter went to day to take her drivers test. I waited inside with my 3yr old. The instructor came in and said to me She didnt pass. She failed right off the bat at parralell parking. He was like she paniced then started crying. He looked scared to death. He told me he thought she was going to hyperventilate. I swear hes going to need counseling. He told me he knew she knew what to do but she was stressed and scared. He told me Um ma'am I left her crying in the car. Just please tell her that I am sorry and that I had to take the exact test she did so I know how it feels. I walked to the car and Kadie was sitting in passengers side. She was crying and she swore she was never going to drive again. Thankfully after talking to her she has rescheduled her test for next week. Keep fingers crossed. See what you have to look forward to? I emailed her youth pastor and he and his wife are going to take Kadie out to practice. What a great guy.

About the song I had never heard of it before. Now we have one that drives me mad though I dont hear it much now. This is the song that never ends yes it goes on and on my friend somebody started singing it not knowing what it was and we'll continue singing it forever just because. on and on and on.

I will order bracelets as soon as my hubby gets paid. Poor baby. We have a little boy that goes to playgroup with our little ones who has been through chemo 2 times looks like he is going to make it. Keeping fingers crossed. Take care Love ya kid. Elisabeth

I remember singing "The song that never ends" when I was a kid with my brother and sister until we lost our voices. It was while we were on a road trip. Looking back now I think, "my poor parents." I would have lost it if it would have been my children. Bless you, Momma.

Not a first time for me to have tears reading your post. But a first time it was not followed by laughter and running to the bathroom to pee before I wet my pants. WOW my heart and prayers go out to Mimi and her son! To her whole family!! I could not even imagine what she is going through. I will also ask my blog readers to buy bracelets!! Thanks for making me take the time to remember the blessings I have in my life!Stacey

Ahhh, the Pirate Movie! My sisters and I just reminisced and even watch this movie just two weeks ago as we celebrated our 30th birthdays (I'm a twin). What a corny movie, but a special memory nonetheless. :-)

Okay - Great! Now I have to go and rent the video. If that's the ending of a satire of the Pirates of Penzance, then the rest of the movie must be hilarious! I bet all the copies of The Pirate Movie will be rented all over the world over the next few weeks. And Amazon will have a run on them as well.

Gee, you know what? You could buy stock in some product, then mention that product on your Blog, then watch the stock soar as everyone goes for said product. There you go - instant Millionaire!

my kids loved shari and lambchop and the song that never ends... i can still hum it and get them started ! :-) grinsi have the original vhs tape of the pirate movie and MANY MANY years ago we used to watch it every sunday my kids have grown up on it as well as many other family members we are all musical fanatics.

our prayers are with Julian and his family.

i love the pic of chocolate covered brooklyn i am glad you put it up i also love the new layout!

I've survived cancer twice...I think its great that you posted Julian's info here. I'm definitely going to check out his site.

I thought I was the only one who was crazy about "The Pirate Movie." I haven't seen it in 20 years though...how cool to see that clip. Now I need to go out and rent it and torture my kids LOL. Yes, I was a child (or teenager actually) of the 80s...and proud of it dangit!

THANK YOU for putting chocolate Brooklyn back! I really get a kick out of that picture, and so does my (almost) 5-year-old daughter. She giggles uncontrollably every time she sees her!

I'm glad your fridge is under warranty...and kudos for standing up to the guy and telling him to collect his fee from Whirlpool! *virtual high five*

My kids sang that song, and my oldest is 28! I just sang along, and then when they stopped, I would say, oh, no, you started it, lets keep going. Funny,they didn't sing it as much when I started doing that! Especially since I am a bit tone deaf and my girls have perfect pitch (inherited from their dad, LOL), so I would be wandering off key and make them crazy.

They say that about the weather in Chicago, too? They say that about West Texas!

I'll be e-mailing Mimi to get me one (or several) of those bracelets. I have a livestrong one already- might as well add to my collection for a great cause like this!

We (OK, I guess I can't speak for everyone, but by looking at your blog hits, I might as well speak for everyone...) all love you! I look forward to coming to your blog every day- it's a great way to start my morning! Keep up the good work with those kiddos, mom!

(Oh, by the way, do your kids know 'The Song That Never Ends'? If not, DO NOT LET THEM EVER HEAR IT! :)

I need a new van as you've said you do. I'm holding out for the new model that comes with the chauffer's sound-proof privacy screen! Wouldn't that be a popular option?! With the touch of a button, you wouldn't even have to try to tune them out when they sing those songs!

Did I miss you on the news or is it still day by day? Some nights I couldn't tape it, because I was saving my sanity by letting my kids watch a video while I cooked dinner/cleaned up dinner/let Calgon take me away... Hope to see it eventually! Thanks for the daily laughs.

OMG The Pirate Movie! I love that show. I even went so far as to have my husband find it on Ebay and order it for me a couple of years ago. I missed the post that "referenced" it though. Thanks for putting the video up, it is a real blast!

OOOOOOH my God! Christopher Atkins!! Thank you Dawn and thank you YouTube... I used to lie awake at night dreaming that was ME in that white dress doing the cheesy pirate-dance... It made my day (as your BLOG usually does- but this was extra special!)

I don't think one person who reads your blog would ever think you were anything but kind and generous for wanting to help others! And it appears you were doing that before you were "famous" (I started reading at the start of your wild ride). Besides, who cares what other people think? You're doing what you know is a good thing, and you will see the benefit of that.

Dawn, you are wonderful. You are not a dork and definitely not a schmuck (you do know that it translates as uniquely male piece of anatomy?) Please keep on plugging all those charities. Love your blog and look forward to it every day!

Dawn, I read your blog religiously, but never comment. However, this time, I couldn't resist. Just want to say thank you so much for the Pirate Movie clip. That was my FAVORITE movie back in the day and it so took me back. Now I gotta see if I can find it on DVD. Thanks!!

I'm glad to hear that the part was covered. You must be in shock considering that stuff NEVER happens.How about this weather 80 something one day 47 freakin' degrees the next. All I can say is brrr. I'll have to remember to never teach that song to my little one.

i know how cancer can affect famlies, my friends little girl was diagnosed with AML is may, the one thing she had going for her was that she had downs syndrom. that helped to save her. She is now done with Chemo and has a BM check to make sure she is still cancer free. Little J will be in my prayers

I think I might prefer the singing in the car over the screaming contest my two have. It's the "let's see who can get the loudest or break the windows first" contest!

Thanks for sharing about Julian. It is amazing how resilient kids can be. I will check out his page. My nephew, Jordan, who is seven and a half now, was diagnosed with a brain tumor at 10 months old. He has had three surgeries, the last of which caused a stroke. It left him with limited used of his right side, but as I said, it is amazing how resilient kids can be! He runs and plays with his brother and six cousins like there's absolutely nothing wrong with him!

I read the comment from Michelle, and thought I would help if I could. I found an ebay store: http://search.stores.ebay.com/The-Goody-Shoppe_Chocolate-Coating-Wafers_W0QQfciZQ2d1QQfclZ4QQfsnZTheQ20GoodyQ20ShoppeQQfsooZ1QQfsopZ1QQsaselZ114198127QQsofpZ0

They have chocolate coating wafers for the cheapest price I could find: $2.35/lb or $11.99 for a 5 lb bag. Hope it helps!

Also, I thought you might enjoy this song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W95Y8hNQiH8

I'm sure the words to this song are stuck in your head continuously, lol!

I too missed the pirate movie reference, but seeing that song, WOW! my fingers - I couldn't stop them. they went to Youtube, and searched out more videos from the movie. and after I found the song 'Pumpin and Blowin', well, my fingers headed straight for Amazon, and before I knew it, the movie was ordered. Sigh, I hate it when my fingers get out of control like that. My husband will think I've lost my mind, ha!

re: the melting chocolate... 30 lbs? wow. I was going to offer the old double boiler trick my mom used to use for Holiday gift-making time, but I think that would do about 3 lbs at a time, at most. try searching out candy making chocolate melt - I found this link. http://www.sugarcraft.com/catalog/candies/chocolate.htm prices are better than $4/lb! Good luck!

So glad CHOCO-Baby is back! I missed seeing her sweet little face! LOVE your new format!

What a blessing it would be for Julian's family if your fans took the time to purchase even just one of those bracelets!

THIS IS FOR MICHELLE

Don't know if Brand Names are allowed here, but

RE: CHOCOLATE PARTY

GOOGLE in: Candy melts, Wilton's,

A little advice here:

DO NOT BUY the grocery's brand Chocolate/Almond bark...It's NASTY tasting!

ALSO, if you can find Nestle's (or an off-brand, although make sure it says REAL chocolate) milk chocolate, butterscotch, or white chocolate chips on sale, you can use those.

The chips can be SLOWLY melted over a double boiler or in a microwave...set the power about 50-70%, cook for 1 minute intervals just until completely melted, stirring after each minute. Don't let the mixture get too hot!

I've also used those GIANT Milk Chocolate Hershey bars that sometimes go on sale for $1.00 to make candy...crumble them up and melt in the microwave as described above.

For the COLORED "white chocolate,"well, it's kinda hard to tint it youself...can't use water-based coloring and the paste dyes are expensive. Better to go with Wilton's colored candy melts.

Ahh, the Pirate Movie, my sister and I have seen that movie about a million times, we loved it. I bought it on ebay, and when she found out, I had to order her one too. I'm glad to see we weren't the only ones obsessed with that movie!I've never heard the song your kids sing, but have heard the song that never ends, and fortunately, my kids have not heard either, and hopefully never will!I heard on the news that 1 in 4 children will have some form of cancer before the age of 18, how is that for a disturbing and horrific statistic? I said to my husband that that means potentially one of our four boys could get it. It sure puts the little things we complain about it perspective, doesn't it?

Hi Dawn,I am a huge fan. Mom of 4.I got this email today and thought of you and your connection to all of the moms out there! Given your high email traffic you may have seen this, but if not, it is sweet.I don't know anything about the Author or where it came from. I only pas on the good stuff.To all the Moms I know...I'm invisible.It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response,the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on thephone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, "Can'tyou see I'm on the phone?" Obviously not. No one can see if I'm onthe phone, orcooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in thecorner, because no one can see me at all.I'm invisible.Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this?Can you tie this? Can you open this? Some days I'm not a pair ofhands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, "What time isit?" I'm a satellite guide to answer, "What number is the DisneyChannel?" I'm a car to order, "Right around 5:30, please."

I was certain that these were the e hand s that once held books and theeyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cumlaude - but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, neverto be seen again. She's going .. she's going... she's gone!

One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the returnof a friend from England. Janice had just gotten back from afabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel shestayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all puttogether so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry formyself as I looked down at my out-of-style dress; it was the onlything I could find that was clean. My unwashed hair was pulled up ina banana clip and I was afraid I could actually smell peanut butterin it.

I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with abeautifully wrapped package, and said, "I brought you this." It wasa book on the great cathedrals of Europe. I wasn't exactly sure whyshe'd given it to me until I read her inscription: "To Charlotte,withadmiration for the greatness of what you are building when no onesees."In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I woulddiscover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, afterwhich I could pattern my work:No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record oftheir names.These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would neversee finished.They made great sacrifices and expected no credit.The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that theeyes of God saw everything.A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visitthe cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carvinga tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked theman, "Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into abeam that will be covered by the room f? No one will ever see it."And the workman replied, "Because God sees."

I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It wasalmost as if I heard God whispering to me, "I see you, Charlotte. Isee the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around youdoes. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, nocupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over.You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now whatit will become."At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not adisease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease ofmy own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubbornpride. I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a greatbuilder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they willnever seefinished, to work on something that their name will never be on.

The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedralscould ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few peoplewilling to sacrifice to that degree.When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friendhe's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, "My mom gets up at4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes aturkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table."That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I justwant him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything moreto say to his friend, to add, "You're gonna love it there."

As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen ifwe're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that theworld will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beautythat has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisiblewomen.

Hiya Dawn, ive come out of lurking to say, im glad Brooklyn is back, I love the new look, only one thing puzzles me, where are the next and previous buttons along the bottom (or anywhere else for that matter)

OOOHH Thanks!! I had to play the clip 5 times! I put my 4 mo old down for a nap on the bed while I played on the laptop. Everytime the song would end her little eyes would peep open looking towards the laptop.

Hooray for Julian :) He is adorable! I will pray for him!My friend Dylan is 8 yrs old and fighting Cancer also. He just recieved a bone marrow transplant from his 4yr old brother 20 days ago. Here is his page: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/dylanmayo

I have to go back and read this whole post, but needed to comment: As soon as I read the "I KNOW A SONG THAT GETS ON EVERYBODY'S NERVES" I kinda giggled and snorted at the same time and said outloud to no one, "Oh shut up" while giggling and snorting cuz that song makes me crack up and insane at the same exact time when my kids sing it!!!

I don't know if you'll remember this.. but I posted a link to the "Mom Song" a few days ago.. but didn't have the full song. Well.. Here it is!!! The full song!! It also has the lyrics! :) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxT5NwQUtVM

I must have missed that movie. At least you didn't have those dance moves, wow, that was bad!!! And big ((((((HUGS))))) go out to your friend and her little angel. That just brings tears to my eyes and makes me hold my little devils a bit closer. It is so sad that kids have to go through all that. He is a cutie!!!

Um, so I've never heard of "The Pirate Movie." And honestly can say that I have no interest in seeing it now. I'm sure it's one of those movies that I would fall in love with, but that song just bugged the crap out of me. It's probably because I'm OTR (if you have to ask, you don't want to know...).

Yeah, I only read like the first 15 posts before I posted... I don't have the time or energy to see what 60+ people have written already. But now thanks to someone, I have "The Song That Never Ends" stuck in my head now. :) Lucky me.

Aw... reminds me of the end-of-the-show song from Shari Lewis' Lambchop and Friends. It was called "The Song That Never Ends"

**this is the song that never ends it keeps going on my friends Some people started singing it not knowing what it was And they'll continue singing it because... this is the song that never ends (repeat x times) **

I love reading your blog, it is wonderful and hillarious. Sometimes I read it at work and almost get myself in trouble cause I can't stop laughing. I've been reading for a couple of months now, but this is the first time I commented. I have two children and wish I could make things as funny as you do with six! Anyway, I was wondering, What happened to the archives? I like to be able to go back if I miss one, but the Old Stuff doesn't work as a link...just wondering. Keep up the great work, I can't wait for the book!

Thanks for including that video! My husband used to love that movie. He got it the other day and was soooo excited to share it with me. Apparently, I was in love with the girl in the movie! I was thrilled to see the guy who was in American Hero! He was ultimately disappointed that the movie wasn't as good as he remembered it to be!

I must say, I have never seen The Pirate Movie before, and I think that I'm really glad! That was terrible! I'm not going to show it to my kids for fear of them liking it! LOL!

Have you ever heard of MonaVie? You can go to www.mymonavie.com/bergman to learn more about it. It's helped people with diabetes, high blood pressure, depression, arthritis (including rheumatiod), aches and pains, etc. The University of Florida did a study on it with cancer cells, and it killed them. They don't claim to cure anything, but by proper nutrition you can reverse some things. Cancer runs throughout my mom's whole side of the family so when I see someone with it, my heart aches. I will pray for Mimi and little Julian. Check out the juice. It helps us get the proper nutrition and counts as our 5-7 fruits and vegetables a day, which is good because most of us (me included) are lucky if we get 1 or 2.

I loved your toilet story. Your poor husband! I love your pictures too! You're a trip! Are you really a UK fan? My husband got an engineering degree there. It only an hour away from me. Go wildcats!! Take care!

I'm so glad to see your cutie pie in chocolate back up on your blog. That was the only thing I missed when you redesigned this baby! :) My two year old LOVES it when I'm looking at your blog. The only problem is that I can't scroll past you choco-baby without outrage from my little boy.

That song is annoying. You have waaay more patience than me! LOL! And I didn't know that you were from the Chicago area. We just moved from there last year to NC. My hubby worked for Sprint Long Distance downtown. I miss Chicago lots. Especially this past summer. :-)